He frees hostages for a living. Now he’s taking hostages to survive.|Jul. 29, 1998|Germany|140 Min.|R
Genre: Action;Crime;Drama;Thriller
Description: **The Negotiator (1998)**
**Plot Summary:**
Lieutenant Danny Roman, a skilled hostage negotiator with the Chicago Police Department’s east precinct, learns from his partner, Nate Roenick, about a concerning revelation. Nate informs him that an unnamed informant has uncovered embezzlement within their own unit, involving significant sums from the department’s disability fund. As a board member overseeing the fund, Roman becomes deeply involved in the investigation. However, when Nate is found murdered in his car under suspicious circumstances, Roman is quickly targeted as the prime suspect.
The situation worsens when Internal Affairs inspector Terence Niebaum, who was previously suspected of involvement in the embezzlement, takes charge of the murder investigation. Evidence linking Roman to the crime, including a gun found near the scene and the discovery of an offshore bank account in his name, leads to his suspension from duty. Despite his protests of innocence, Roman’s colleagues grow increasingly skeptical of his claims.
Desperate to clear his name, Roman confronts Niebaum in his office, taking him and several others hostage. With the building surrounded by police and FBI, Roman demands answers, his badge, and the true identity of Nate’s killer. He also insists on the presence of Chris Sabian, another top negotiator, to mediate the tense standoff.
This gripping thriller explores themes of trust, betrayal, and justice as Roman fights to uncover the truth while being hunted by the very people he once called colleagues.
Cast director: F. Gary Gray
Cast actor: Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Spacey, David Morse, Ron Rifkin, John Spencer, J. T. Walsh, Siobhan Fallon Hogan, Paul Giamatti, Regina Taylor, Bruce Beatty
Original name: The Negotiator